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“The species. I know. Don't worry.”

She eyed me. And suddenly I wondered what secrets she was carrying around with her. I had already revealed one.

“He's doing research on you...” she whispered, still staring into space. “That was your blood in the lab the other day…”

“Surprise,” I laughed. “Tell me more about the lab.”

I knew where Quentin worked, but I hadn't yet been able to find out exactly what he was doing with my blood. Researching the species could mean many things.

“No,” Julie said quickly. “I can't.”

“Then I'll have to ask the esteemed gentleman myself.”

Julie looked contritely out the exit onto the path, which was lit by elegant metal lanterns and adorned with oak trees at the edge of the meadow.

Everything about this place seemed to be from a bygone era, as if this ancient secret society from 1802 – with its strange antler masks – could still be sneaking through the corridors of this massive building.

I looked down at Julie.

She was wearing the light gray coat, but you could see the hints of the baby bump straining against her blouse.

“Are you going to tell him about it?”

Julie's head jerked up.

“No. And I hope you'll let me make that decision.”

Good heavens, this girl...

“I don't like lying to my partner.”

“Partner?” Julie sounded desperate. “Miles, what the hell is going on between you and him?” She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. A gust of wind blew strands of hair from her face. “And no, you wouldn't lie.” She looked at me intently, even though she couldn't manage to hold my gaze. “You'd just leave things out when he asks.”

She seemed distracted. Her cheeks were flushed, and individual red spots dotted her forehead and nose.

I sighed.

“I don't know which of you I should feel sorrier for... The desperate witch girl with this incredibly heavy secret.” I raised one hand, then the other, to make the meaning of my next words clear to her. “Or the hopeless romantic who doesn't know he's going to be a damn father.”

Julie's eyes were now glued to mine. I knew I had piqued her curiosity. As well as her nervousness. I felt it.

“Just a piece of advice,” I began, my voice serious yet calm. I wanted her to understand me. “If someone who meant as much to me as you mean to him kept it from me that this person was pregnant with my child…” I took a deep breath. “That would be the last straw for me.”

There was no one who meant that much to me. But if…

An image of Emely flashed through my mind and I suppressed a curse, looked away, out at the dark campus, and took another deep breath, as if the air could wash the memories of her out of my head.

Only one thing in the world was capable of destroying things, erasing memories, and that was strong, burning alcohol.

I clenched my jaw, letting my chest fill with the pleasant cool night air.

It had been one stupid dance. A dance! Why had I been such a fool and believed I could just open up to her like that while we danced and I touched her warm, soft skin?

A pleasant tingling sensation shot through my fingertips.

Damn, what had I done?

I couldn't explain where the sudden urge came from to look for her first whenever I entered the campus.